Today condemned a “brutal and unfounded decision” announced yesterday, with the French president talking about a shock in world trade and measures with extremely serious consequences for the European economy.
Speaking to a meeting of industry leaders who are affected by these US duties, in the presence of Prime Minister François Bairou, Macron spoke of a “unprecedented scale” decision, which “will have a huge impact on all sectors of the European economy and exports”.
“But what I want to emphasize at the beginning of this meeting is that the size and negative nature of this decision is mainly for the American economy. And one is certain: with tonight’s decisions, the American economy and Americans, whether business or citizens, will get weaker than yesterday and poorer, “he said.
As for Europeans, “we must remain united and determined at this stage. And I also say it because I know what will happen. The biggest players will tend to act on their own, and this is not a good idea, “Mr Macron warned.
The French president spoke of.
“The first answer will come in mid -April and will concern the duties already imposed, especially on steel and aluminum,” he said.
“The second, more massive response, this to the duties announced yesterday (Wednesday), will be at the end of the month after a detailed study, per sector and in cooperation with all Member States and financial sectors,” the French president stressed.
At the same time, it called on French companies operating in the US to suspend all their investment plans there until Donald Trump’s announcement of a massive increase in duties against the European Union was clarified.
“What is important is (…) future investments or those announced in recent weeks to be temporarily suspended until we clarify things with the US,” Macron said, adding: “Why would the message be if European big agencies start investing in the US.
Bairou noted that Trump’s announcements “are not just an attack on the principles of international trade: it is an attack on the idea we had for our alliance with the US” and “the stability of the world, at least the Western world”.
